Machine for tapering corks



`(Model.)

I'. L; BLAIR. s l Machine fo TaperngrGor-ks.

No. 228,169. Patented'lune 1,1880.

N. PETERS. PHOTO-UTHDGRAPHER. WASHINGTON. D. CV

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK L. BLAIR, OF ALLEGHENY, PENNSYLVANIA.

MACHINE FoR TAPERING coRKs.l

SPECIFICATION forming' part of Letters Patent No. 228,169, dated June 1, 18801 Application filed March 18, 1880. (Model.)

To all whom it 'may concern Be it known that I, FRANK L. BLAIR, of Allegheny city, ,in the `county of `Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in- Machines for Tapering Gorks; andI do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had i to the accompanying drawings, forming` a part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a plan view of my im proved corktapering machine. Fig. 2 is a side elevation; and Fig. 3, a cross-section at .fr w, Fig. l.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts in each. A

My invention consists, chiefly, in devices for angling the kniieand the cork-spindles, so as to facilitate the cutting of coi-ks of any desired degree of taper.

To enable others skilled in the lart tol make and use my invention, I will now describe its construction and operation.

This machine has a rotating knife or cuttingdisk, a, and cork-holdingspindles b c, for holding and presenting the cork to the knife a. The spindle b has a limited reciprocating motion, such motion being limited by the stem b2, extending down into the slot of the guide b3. The ends of the slide are closed and serve to limit the movement of the stem b2, and thereby the movement of the spindle b. The spindle b is held forward by the pressure of a weight, b4, attached by a cord to the stem b2. The spindle b has a rotating head, b', for holding the cork, such head being mounted on a stem and being free to rotate. The spindle c has a rotatory movement imparted to it by the belt and pulley g g', and a reciprocating` movement, hereinafter to be described. Its head o r holding-face is serrated.

The knife ais rotated by the pulley d. It is mounted on avertical arbor, h, which is stepped in a vertically-adjustable oil-cup, i, and secured at the upper endl in a journal-box, k, which is pivoted to a block, Z, at 702, as indicated by dotted lines, Figs. l. and 3. A cap, 7a2, is placed on the box k. The block lis slotted at Z', and secured to the frame of the niachine by a bolt, L2.

The purpose of this is to permit the longitudinal adjustment of the'boX k, so as to throw the arbor h out of vertical line, and thereby incline the knife. The cup t' rests in the block m, which is slotted at m m', and secured to the frame of the machine by bolts m2 m2. The purpose of this construction is to permit the cup i to be moved horizontally, and thus throw the arbor h out of perpendicular, thus aiding in giving the knife anobliqueadjustment. This construction'may be usedwith non-adjustable spindles, and, for ordinary purposes, will enable me to give the knife such an inclination that corks of the ordinary degrees of taper can be cut on the machine.

The operation with this construction would be the same as in other machines of this class, the knife being jrst adjusted to the required angle by loosening the proper bolts, adjusting the arbor, and then tightening the bolts again.

I also show a method of obtaining the adjustment by means of the spindles. The spinldles b and c are both mounted `on a rocking frame, a, which is secured, by bolts o in slots o, to a slide, p, on a frame, q, at the side ofthe machine. By loosening the bolts o' the frame a may be tipped either way at pleasure. A toggle or movable wrist, o2, connected with the shaft that rotates the spindle c, permits this adjustment to be made without interfering with the rotation of the spindle. By this means the cork maybe presentedto the knife without moving the arbor. This is for ordinary forms of corks. But there are large numbers of corks used having a greater degree of taper than those commonly used. These require the use of both of the means of adjustment described, and then they operate jointlythat is, the knife and the' spindles are both inclined to the horizon, but in opposite directions.

To bring the cork Within operative range of the knife, there is a cam, r, moved bya crank, r', which, working against the slide jp, causes it to slide up on the guides p', and thus bring the spindles into-the range of the knife a.

The knife a may be adj usted vertically with relation to the spindles by screwing up or down the cup t', which has a screw-stem, working through the collar t2.

In case of the wearing of the knife, the spindles b c can be moved in toward it, the frame ,q being mounted on knees s, which are adjustable by slots s and bolts s2 in the brackets s3.

Ioo

The frame q is secured to the knees s by bolts l t through transverse slots t t', one in each part.

The spindle c extends through the pulley g2, which has a clutch-collar, g3. At the outer end of the spindle is a clutch device, c3, designed to connect the spindle 'with the pulley in order to communicate power to it. The clutch is thrown in and out of connection by means of a bifurcated lever, u, taking over projections u and pivoted at u2. The pulley g is in continuous motion.

When a cork is placed between the spindles the spindle cis thrown forward to grasp it. This throws the clutch c3 into connection and causes the rotation of the spindle. When the spindle is withdrawn to release the cork the clutch is disconnected and the spindle ceases lto rotate.

At the rear of and above the head of the spindle c, and mounted 011 screw stems e' c on the frame u., are two centering strips, n fu. They are adjusted, as may be desired, on the screw-stems o n', and when adjusted are designed to center the cork properly between spindle-heads b c.

In feeding the machine the cork is rested against the strips, in the angle between them, and, if they are accurately adjusted, will be properly centered with the spindles. When the cork is presented the spindle b, being held forward by the weight b4, is not opposite to the cutting-point. The object of this is to cause the cork to be grasped by the heads b c before the clutch o3 comes into contact with the collar g3 and causes the rotation of the spindle. This is in order that the operator may be enabled to feed the machine while the spindles are not turning and while they are not in dangerous proximity to the knife. When the spindle c, as it moves back, comes in contact with the cork-blank it forces it against f the head b', and thereby forces the spindle b back until the clutch c3 is in gear, which brings the cork opposite to the center of the knife.

The operation of my. machine is as follows:

The adjustment necessary to produce the required taperl is made either by angling the knife to the spindles, or vice versa, or by angling both in opposite directions, and then placing the cork (which is either a block or a cylindrical blank previously cut) between the spindles against the centering devices, and grasping it between the holding-faces of the spindles, and bringing it opposite the center ofthe knife by placing the foot on the lever u. This causes the rotation of the cork, and then the spindles are raised to the rotating knife a by the crank r, and the desired taper cut thereon.

I am aware that the cutting-disk has heretofore been attached to a pulley journaled on a slide-rest attached to a knuckle-joint, so that, through the combined motion of the slide-rest and knuckle-joint, the operator, while running the machine, could incline the knife at will, and do not herein claim such devices; but

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a cork-tapering machine, the combination, with rotating cork-holders, of the rotary knife or cutting-disk mounted on an arbor which is stepped at one end in an adjustable oil-cup and journaled at the other end in a pivoted adjustable block, whereby the rotary knife may be adjusted to or from the corkholders and set at an angle thereto, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. In a cork-tapering machine, the combination, with a rotating cutting-disk, of rotating cork-holders mounted in a rocking frame adjustably connected to a reciprocating frame or slide, whereby the spindles or cork-holders may be set at an angle to the cutting-disk and moved to and from the same, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I, the said FRANK L. BLAIR, have hereunto set my hand.

FRANK L. BLAIR.

Witnesses:

T. B. KERR, JAMES A. MGKEAN. 

